When you have an asphalt parking lot, you are responsible for keeping it in good condition. Keeping your parking lot in good condition will allow you to keep your customers safe and keep the curb appeal of your business looking good. It is important to know when your asphalt parking lot just needs to be fixed and when it needs to be replaced.

Age of Asphalt

One of the factors that you need to consider is the age of your parking lot. If your parking lot is not that old or if you have been sealcoating your parking lot on a regular basis throughout the years, then you probably only need to fix your parking lot.

If your parking lot was laid a long time ago and the substrate of the parking lot has started to deteriorate, you are going to want to replace your asphalt parking lot. At a certain point in time, it makes more sense to replace it than to continue to repair it. Asphalt lots can generally last a decade or two with good maintenance; if yours is around that age, it may be time for a new one.

Traffic Level of the Parking Lot

Second, you need to consider the traffic level of the parking lot. If the parking lot gets a lot of heavy traffic, patching it up may not do the job. The crack or damage will just need repairs again due to all the weight that your parking lot has to handle on a regular basis. With a heavily used lot, oftentimes replacement is better than patching things up.

If your parking lot doesn't get a lot of heavy traffic, then patching up any damage should be okay. With less traffic, the patch will hold for longer periods of time.

The Seriousness of the Damage

Third, the type of damage will impact if your parking lot can just be patched up or if it needs to be replaced. If you have a hairline crack, for example, a simple patch is all that you need to fix it. If you have a deep and wide crack, you may be able to patch it. If you have a full-on pothole, or large holes in your asphalt, you are going to need to seriously consider replacing your parking lot. Large, deep holes are serious and often can't be patched.

When it comes to your asphalt parking lot, you can repair it if your it is new, gets light traffic, or the damage isn't that serious. You should replace your asphalt parking lot if it is old, gets heavy traffic on a regular basis, or you have serious deep damage to your parking lot. Speak with a professional for more information on parking lot paving.